Have you ever looked into making your own wine? It’s easier and simpler than you might think with this Instant Pot homemade wine recipe…
Choosing the Instant Pot for winemaking is definitely the way to go. It takes less time & gives you an amazing and tasty wine. You can choose your flavor according to your own taste.
Table of Contents
Recipe Video
How Does this Work?
Wine is grape juice that has been fermented, and fermentation requires yeast and a temperature around 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures hotter than 140 degrees will kill the yeast, and if the water is much colder than 70 degrees it may not be warm enough to activate it.
Basically, you’re trying to create an environment for the yeast to thrive, so it turns the sugars into alcohol, and the yogurt function does just that, since making yogurt relies on the growth of bacteria.
This method was originally developed by David Murphy from foodnservice.com.
What Does the Yogurt Button Do?
The yogurt button has two functions: first to heat to 180 degrees to kill harmful bacteria, and second, to maintain a constant moderate temperature for fermentation to take place.
For winemaking, we are interested in this second step. That is why in the recipe, you hit “less” after you hit the yogurt button to skip the first step.
What if my Pressure Cooker Doesn’t Have a Yogurt Button?
This recipe requires pressure cooker models with a yogurt function. Unfortunately, the Instant Pot “Warm” setting is a bit too warm, about 150-170 degrees, so it may kill the yeast.
Do I Really Need to Add that Much Sugar?
It may seem like a lot of sugar, but the yeast needs sugar to ferment properly. The recipe as written is great! It is a little sweet but great to drink on its own, chilled.
I mention chilled because this wine should be stored in the refrigerator after it’s complete to avoid overgrowing bacteria.
Also, choose a grape juice that is 100% juice with no added sugars.
Do I Need to Use the Brands Written in the Recipe?
No—but I would use something similar to get similar results. Any yeast labeled red wine yeast and any sugary grape juice will work.
Additionally, the type of grape juice you use will have an effect on the final taste of the wine. So experiment with different brands and see which one you like best!
What Can I do with the wine?
Once done, you can enjoy a glass of your private label wine every evening watching Netflix, or use it to improve your Instant Pot recipes!
You can make some great recipes using this wine, like Instant Pot poached pears or Instant Pot Coq Au Vin. Alternatively, make mulled wine and have a party!
For more ideas, you can check out this ultimate guide to cooking with wine, from Advanced Mixology.
Can I store the wine?
Of course. And in fact it's a good idea!
While you can drink the Instant Pot wine right away, it actually gets better over time.
Just let it sit for 2-3 weeks to get an even better taste.
Beverage Recipes
Instant Pot Pumpkin Spice Latte
Instant Pot Homemade Wine
Ingredients
- 32 oz Welch’s grape juice 32 oz bottle
- ½ cup Lalvin Red Wine Yeast
- ½ cup sugar granulated
Instructions
- Add ½ cup of sugar in the bottle of Welch’s grape juice and shake vigorously.
- Add ½ packet Lalvin Red Wine Yeast in the bottle and shake vigorously one more time.
- Pour the juice into the Instant Pot.
- Close the lid, press the “Yogurt” button and then press the “Less” button.
- Cook for 48 hours. Keep the venting knob on "venting".
- Refrigerate and serve 🙂
Nutrition
Video
Notes
- The alcohol, in the instant pot, doesn't cook off it gets trapped in the sealed pressure cooker and condenses back into the liquid.
- If you’re afraid of bacteria entering the lid of the bottle and wrecking your wine, you can always buy an airlock.
Any idea of the alcohol percentage when it's done?
I'm glad to see this blog, because I want to use my instant every way I can.
I'm glad too! There are so many things you can make with your Instant Pot. Happy to share.
Can you use real fruit juice?
I have clear white grape juice from out crop. If so, do they sell a white wine yeast?
What do I put the wine in after it's done?
A half cup of yeast seems like an awful lot.
She meant half a packet
I have a 6 and an 8 quart Crock Pot brand pressure cooker. They both have yogurt, but neither has a LESS button. The 6 has a low temperature button... you think that would work?... a question for the other users, not the author.
What percentage of alcohol results with this recipe?
Could you use the glass lid with the vent hole? The slow cooker lid.
Yes, you can use that for this, since there's no pressure cooking involved and it has a vent.